Why didn't I ever learn that in maths? - PHI - 1.618
If I'd looked at this stuff while I was in school you could bet I'd be I'd be a master cryptologist by now.
Phi - the divine ratio.
Ok you know I've been reading The Da Vinci Code and i've picked it all up in there.
Its quite amazing stuff and really I'm not easily won over, but this number or ratio is simply ubiquitous. Heartbeat, DNA, all physical proportions, plants, spirals, art, cosmos.....
Have you all heard of the Fibonacci series? It's a number series where every figure is the sum of the preceding two. It looks like this:
1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34..........
anyway I can't carry on, I'd certainly never finish.
Here's a cute little flash intro to the series.
The fibonacci series is interesting in its own right but if you divide each figure by the preceding number you find that as you move along the series you tend towards a number. That number is Phi - The Divine Proportion.
1/1 = 1,
2/1 = 2,
3/2 = 1·5,
5/3 = 1·666...,
8/5 = 1·6,
13/8 = 1·625,
21/13 = 1·61538...
Carry on for long enough and it will hit 1.618.....
This number is interesting just because it is everywhere, really why would a number just keep popping up like that?
Measure the tip of your finger to your shoulder and divide it by the measuremnt of finger to elbow and you get Phi. This can be repeated with finger joints, facial features and many other physical proportions.
Spirals follow Phi, so that covers snails, sunflower seeds, DNA ....
Saturn's rings and so much more.
Check out this site for a mind boggling description of this numbers power.
Comments
we love phi we even dream it about it at night...its our world... if phi was a man...mmmm phi
Posted by: Iheartphi | May 19, 2006 2:23 PM
Hey this stuff is facsinating I love history and the arts,how cool is this.
I too have read the Code,
Posted by: Paul | December 29, 2005 5:46 PM
I too have been reading the Da Vinci code and it's sparked an interest in Phi and Fibonacci. I am currently studying maths at college and need a subject for a project so why not this? If anyone has any info or web links please e-mail me, thanks Dan
Posted by: Danny g | December 20, 2005 2:36 PM
Great stuff hey!Actually we're now learning about Fibonacci in school. I'm 15 and has this HUGE (really huge) project on the Fibonacci series and the golden ratio. Just thought I'd tell you - for interest sake, you know!:-) Thankyou!
Posted by: Thanks | April 20, 2005 8:36 PM
if any one want to email me some interesting stuff about PHI then feel free
Posted by: simon | April 9, 2005 6:38 PM
yes i also read da vinci code and so iam searching too
Posted by: frr | June 28, 2004 1:54 PM
So - does that mean ugly people cant count?
Posted by: big bro | June 8, 2004 12:13 PM
Excellent!!!!!
Posted by: Racheeee | April 1, 2004 12:58 PM